Na de economische gevolgen van de COVID-19-pandemie kon iedereen wel een belastingonderbreking gebruiken. Ook al voelt het opvoeden van huisdieren misschien als een fulltime baan, u kunt huisdieren niet claimen als belastingafhankelijke - maar u misschien huisdierenkosten kunnen afschrijven als u aan bepaalde criteria voldoet, helpt u meer van uw zuurverdiende geld in uw zak te houden.
Hier is alles wat u moet weten over het claimen van belastingaftrek voor huisdieren in 2022 :
U kunt uw huisdier claimen bij uw belastingen, maar alleen in specifieke situaties die in het algemeen van toepassing zijn op dienstdieren en bedrijfsinkomsten. Er zijn verschillende belastingaftrekposten voor huisdieren waarvoor u mogelijk in aanmerking komt, waarmee u huisdierkosten kunt afschrijven, zoals:
Hieronder vindt u de vijf meest voorkomende aftrekposten voor huisdieren waarvoor u in 2022 mogelijk in aanmerking komt . Praat met uw accountant voor het beste advies over het claimen van uw huisdier voor belastingdoeleinden.
De meeste mensen kunnen geen medische kosten voor huisdieren aftrekken van hun belastingaangifte, maar iedereen kan medische kosten aftrekken die tijdens het belastingjaar zijn betaald en die 7,5% van hun aangepast bruto-inkomen overschrijden met behulp van schema A (formulier 1040). Daarom kunt u huisdieren mogelijk claimen bij uw belastingen als ze u medisch helpen of bepaalde diensten verlenen.
Mensen die bijvoorbeeld gehandicapt zijn en voor hulp afhankelijk zijn van een hulpdier, kunnen een hond claimen als gekwalificeerde medische kosten . U kunt alleen huisdierkosten afschrijven voor honden die specifieke diensten verlenen, zoals:
In sommige gevallen kunt u uw hond belastingaangifte doen door een aftrek van de dierenbelasting voor emotionele steun te claimen. . Maar houd er rekening mee dat, hoewel elk huisdier emotionele steun kan bieden, niet alle huisdieren in aanmerking komen als een dier voor emotionele steun (ESA) , ook wel bekend als therapiehond.
Om uw hulphond te claimen op een belastingaangifte, moet u kunnen bewijzen dat uw dier helpt bij het behandelen van een gediagnosticeerde mentale of fysieke behoefte . Zorg ervoor dat u een briefje van uw arts kunt overleggen als bewijs dat u een hulp- of hulpdier nodig heeft.
Als u een bedrijfseigenaar bent, kunt u mogelijk belastingaftrek krijgen voor huisdieren die een dienst voor uw bedrijf leveren. In this case, you’d be claiming a business expense deduction , so you’d have to be able to prove that the cost of keeping your pet is a necessary part of operations .
For example, you might be able to claim a deduction if you rely on a cat to protect your business from pests, or take a deduction for dogs working on your farm to protect livestock from prey.
If you want to claim pets as a business expense , hold on to all your receipts related to their caretaking. Examples of expenses you can write off include food and veterinarian costs. You should also keep a record of how much time the animal spends at your business.
If your pets perform in some way that earns you income, you may be able to claim them (and their related costs) as a business expense . For example, some people ride horses as a hobby, but if you perform by riding a horse and make an income from it, the IRS might consider the cost of caring for that horse as a qualified business expense .
If your dog appears in commercials, television shows, movies, or print advertisements, they could also be considered part of a business venture . The same could be true if your cat is the star of your monetized YouTube channel, in which case they may qualify for influencer tax write-offs .
Just be sure to keep accurate records of every expense related to your pet and the activity that earns income . This might include the money you spend on monthly pet insurance premiums as a means to protect your business investment.
If you foster animals, you might be able to get a tax break on your income return. Every expense made on caring for foster animals could be deducted as charitable donations, so long as the animals are from a qualified nonprofit organization.
Most nonprofits will pay for the cost of food and veterinary care for the animals you foster, but any necessity you pay for out-of-pocket is a tax-deductbile pet expense.
If you volunteer at animal shelters or rescue organizations, you may be able to deduct fuel costs , so keep track of your mileage. Note that this pet tax deduction only applies to driving done in service to the organization’s mission, not to your commute.
Finally, you may be able to claim pet expenses on taxes if you spent money transferring them to a new home in 2021. However, you can only write off pet expenses related to moves that meet certain conditions established by the IRS:
In order to claim your dog or cat on a tax return, rather than taking a standard deduction, you’ll need to write off pet expenses as itemized deductions .
When most people file their taxes, they take the standard deduction , a pre-set number (updated annually) that the IRS allows you to deduct from your taxable income without any questions asked. When filing in 2022 for the 2021 tax year , the standard tax deduction that you can claim based on your filing status is:
Alternatively, you can also itemize deductions by adding up the dollar amount of each qualified expense in 2021. That’s how you can claim pets on taxes, including their vet bills, pet insurance, food supplies, and more. Just remember to keep receipts on record to support every pet expense you claim, as well as proof that your pet is tax deductible , to safeguard against an IRS audit.
However, if all of your itemized deductions from the 2021 tax year don’t amount to much, you’re probably better off taking the standard deduction versus claiming your pet on a return .
If you think the amount that you can write off in pet expenses (in addition to all other tax deductions you may qualify for) is greater than the standard deduction, then it’s worth calculating the total amount, so you can get the biggest tax break possible. We recommend talking to a professional for help.
No, pets are not considered dependents for tax purposes.
Veterinary bills, pet insurance, food, supplies, training, grooming, boarding, and transportation costs are all examples of pet expenses you can write off on taxes. However, you can only claim pets on taxes if they meet certain criteria, such as contributing to income or serving a medical need. Talk to a professional to see if you can file your dog or cat on your taxes.
Yes, pet medical expenses are tax-deductible for pets that are classified as service animals or working animals. You might also be able to claim vet bills on taxes for pets you foster, provided that the nonprofit organization you work for is registered with the IRS and has not reimbursed you for the service.
If you’re looking for a way to get reimbursed for your family pet’s medical expenses, pet insurance is a great tool that can help reduce veterinary expenses in the future.
Most of the pet deductions people typically think of — such as claiming vet bills on taxes or writing off pet insurance — are actually eligible write-offs for those that qualify. However, many taxpayers are surprised to find they can’t claim a pet on a tax return due to the classification of the animal, or lack of sufficient proof required to support the pet deduction. Others are surprised to learn that you can’t claim pets as dependents on taxes.
For services animals, the The IRS explains that the animal will likely have to be trained and/or certified to help treat a diagnosed illness or condition — and you may need a doctor's note describing the medical necessity. For a working animal, you'll likely have to prove that the animal is "ordinary and necessary" in your line of business.
Always check with a tax professional, but it looks like if your dog or cat is the star of a monetized YouTube channel, for example, they might be classified as a performance animal. In which case expenses related to your pet and the activity that earns income could be eligible for influencer tax write-offs.
Always consult a tax professional, but generally, people determine if their itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction amount before deciding to itemize.
If you had to move for work, those moving expenses (including any involved in transporting your pet) could be eligible for a deduction, such as professional carrier services, transportable crates, lodging fees, etc.
Two big ones. (1) Preventive/routine care appointments play a major role in helping health issues before they get too expensive, so please schedule regular vet appointments. (2) Pet insurance is a great way to hedge the financial risk of unexpected accidents, illnesses, and emergencies — and there are no health networks to worry about. Pet insurance can reimburse you for up to 100% or more of the vet bill after your annual deductible is met, which can be a literal life (and wallet) saver, as serious health issues can easily cost thousands to treat.
